Jaxson Dart is flying high as Ole Miss’ starting quarterback, and that saying takes on a whole new meaning following a Tuesday announcement.

On social media, Nicholas Air confirmed an NIL deal working with Dart. The star quarterback is the first college athlete to partner with a private aviation company.

“Proud to partner with Jaxson Dart, the nation’s first college athlete to be aligned with an international private aviation company. Welcome to the team,” Nicholas Air wrote in the announcement.

Dart’s deal includes the use of Nicholas’ fleet of jets for travel, training and philanthropy endeavors.

Impact of the deal

The deal is a major one, and it speaks to the stature of Dart entering the 2024 season. Armed with some key pieces returning on offense, he enters the season as a strong competitor for the Heisman Trophy per the 2024 Heisman odds. Track all the line movement with SDS’s sports betting apps.

Last season, Dart improved in every category during his second season with the Rebels while completing 65% of his passes for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. Dart’s performance included 9.4 yards per attempt and 8 rushing touchdowns, and he’s the key to Ole Miss’ CFP hopes.

Even if Dart is well-deserving of the deal, a player at Ole Miss landing such a marquee offering is also a win for Lane Kiffin’s program. It’s no secret Kiffin’s program continues to heavily work the transfer portal, and being able to boast this kind of offering will only further entice future athletes to Oxford.

Ranking the best, and unique, NIL deals

As far as the best NIL deals go, Dart’s is certainly in the mix, especially for an individual player. Luxury cars have stolen the headlines for certain players, but the use of private jets is a next-level move and a convenient one at that.

Utah still has one of the most comprehensive NIL deals so far in a team-wide endeavor. That rich NIL deal included a brand new Dodge Ram on lease to every scholarship player on the football roster.

As for the unique deals, General Booty produced some of the best to date with his “I Heart Booty” merchandise and later launched an underwear line. Then there was Decoldest Crawford, a former Nebraska receiver who signed a brilliant NIL deal with a local HVAC company.

Overall, the NIL era has produced some great moments and textbook signature deals. Dart’s is the latest big-time move, but there are bound to be others in the new era of college football.